in the zone · 9.08.2019 · nippon-steel_july-fpv3.indd 1 6/11/18 5:49 pm. 22 after-school...
TRANSCRIPT
Time for an upgrade Time for MORI LIVING
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it’s time to upgrade to MORI LIVING. www.moriliving.com
MORI-Living_UPD-JULY.indd 1 2019/06/10 11:13
毎月一回一日発行
第四十七巻六五二号 トウキョウアメリカンクラブ
インタッチマガジン二〇一九年八 月一日発行
平成三年十二月二十日第三種郵便物許可定価八００円
本体七四一円
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Club kids dive into a fall ofafter-school pursuits and fun
In the ZoneN U RT U R I N G T I E S + P R E S E R V I N G T H E PA S T + PA I D T O P L AY
AUGUST 2019
T O K Y O A M E R I C A N C L U B
We are dedicated to creating vibrant communities in the city center.
Since 1965, we have been a leader in high-end rentals for Tokyo’s international community.
In addition to our well-known Homat housing series, which includes the sweeping views of the Homat Viscount in Akasaka and the elegant low-rise building Kara Blanc in Minami-Azabu, we also have a wide range of prestigious properties, including the Akasaka AIR Residence, the Skyhouse Hamarikyu, and the Hirakawacho Residence. We offer elegant accommodation to a wide range of customers, from single residents to couples and families.www.nskre.co.jp/english
Akasaka AIR Residence
Premium real estate for Tokyo living
Nippon-Steel_July-FPv3.indd 1 6/11/18 5:49 PM
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AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIALS
From martial artists to budding ballerinas, students of the Club’s
extracurricular programs share the joy of sharpening new skills while
exploring unique hobbies.
21
LEVELING UP
Japan’s newest professional gamer explains how he climbed the digital
ranks with nothing but grit, a control-ler and some seriously fast fingers.
18
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
Distinguished Achievement Award recipient John Roos pulls back the
curtain on his historic tenure as the United States ambassador to Japan.
COVER IMAGE OF JAYDEN TAPPENDEN BY KAYO YAMAWAKI
5 LEADERSHIP
6 DIGEST
10 AGENDA
I N D E P T H
18 AWARD
21 GAMING
22 FOCUS
C O M M U N I T Y
26 SIX DEGREES
27 REGISTER
29 VOICE
32 HIGHLIGHTS
36 ESCAPE
AUGUST | 1
Contents
FO
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T O K Y O A M E R I C A N C L U B
All prices referenced in INTOUCH exclude 8 percent consumption tax.
03-4588-0687 | www.tokyoamericanclub.org
INTOUCHEditor Nick Jones
Assistant Editor Owen Ziegler
Senior Designer Jason Garcia
Designer Gabriella Finney
Designer Matthew Worsley
Production Administrator Yuko Shiroki
GENERAL MANAGERAnthony L Cala
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERSBusiness Operations Wayne Hunter
Business Support Lian Chang
DIRECTORSFood & Beverage Nori Yamazaki
Recreation Susanna Yung
Member Services Jonathan Allen
Membership Mari Hori
Finance Naoto Okutsu
Engineering Darryl Dudley
Human Resources Shuji Hirakawa
Communications Shane Busato
Information Technology Toby Lauer
Revenue Management Suranga Hettige Don
CONTRIBUTORSWriters
Drew Damron
Douglas Hymas
Sandra Isaka
Tetsutaro Muraki
Photographers
Enrique Balducci
Jason Garcia
Yuuki Ide
Kayo Yamawaki
Illustrator
Tania Vicedo
ADVERTISING IN INTOUCHExplore the Club’s range of advertising possibilities by talking
to the Club’s exclusive advertising agency, Custom Media.
Custom Media President Robert Heldt
Custom Media Publisher Simon Farrell
BOARD OF GOVERNORSRepresentative Governor Michael Alfant (2019)
First Vice President Jesse Green (2020)
Second Vice President Anthony Moore (2020)
Secretary Betsy Rogers (2019)
Treasurer Michael Benner (2020)
Governors Trista Bridges Bivens (2020), John Flanagan (2019), James Mori (2020),
Tetsutaro Muraki (2020), Kenji Ota (2019), Alok Rakyan (2019), Heidi Regent (2019),
Sam Rogan (2019), Christina Siegel (2020),
Statutory Auditor Koichi Komoda (2020)
Parentheses denote term limit.
CLUB COMMITTEE CHAIRSCompensation Anthony Moore
Culture, Community & Entertainment Miki Ohyama (John Flanagan)
Finance Paul Kuo (Michael Benner)
Food & Beverage Jim Weisser (Betsy Rogers)
House Douglas Hymas (Kenji Ota)
Human Resources Ray Klein (Sam Rogan)
Membership Jeffrey Behr (Trista Bridges Bivens)
Nominating Dieter Haberl
Recreation Bryan Norton (Christina Siegel)
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Dean Rogers (Jesse Green)
Parentheses denote Board liaison.
SUBCOMMITTEESCommunity Relations Hideki Endo
Frederick Harris Gallery JoAnn Yoneyama
Golf Charles Postles
Squash Richard Kenny
Swim Nils Plett
Wine & Beverage Terry White
03-4540-7730 | www.custom-media.com
JOINING TOKYO AMERICAN CLUBTo arrange a tour of the facilities,
contact the Membership Office.
Tokyo American Club
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2 | INTOUCH
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Ties that Bind
I t was a touching moment to see US President Donald Trump visiting the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as the first for-eign leader to meet Emperor Naruhito.
The visit in late May followed Naruhito’s ac-cession to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1 during a special 10-day Golden Week holiday.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga noted that the visit of the president and the first lady “as the first state guests under the new imperial era of Reiwa symbolizes the bond of the unwavering Japan-US alliance.”
The White House echoed the sentiment and said the event would “deepen the close bonds between the American and Japanese people and will highlight the continued importance of our alliance and partnership.”
The four-day state visit marked the fifth meeting between President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The pair golfed together, attended the final day of a sumo tournament and dined at a restaurant in Roppongi. They met again at the recent G20 Summit in Osaka.
It’s obvious that the relationship between the two leaders is a strong one. In Japan’s new era, we can expect to see US-Japan relations contin-ue to grow not only in the political and econom-ic arena, but in social and cultural areas, too.
The Club has similar ambitions. Our Ar-ticles of Association state that “the purposes of the Club are, among other lawful ob-jects, to improve international relations, especially between the United States and Ja-pan, and to promote the interchange of culture among countries.”
This mission seems particularly apt ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics when the Club will serve as USA House, the hospitality hub for the United States Olympic Committee. With the city preparing for the Summer Games, the Club has already hosted a number of US teams at meet and greets with Members.
At the conclusion of President Trump’s May visit, Prime Minister Abe said that it had been “a golden opportunity to clearly show the un-shakeable bond to the whole world and inside Japan,” while the president referenced Reiwa’s “beautiful harmony” meaning and said that America shared “this wonderful aspiration for the future.”
Just as it has done for more than 90 years, the Club will continue to do its part to deepen the bonds between the United States, Japan and all the other countries represented in our international community.
Tetsutaro Muraki is a Club governor.
WORDS TETSUTARO MURAKI
IMAGE ENRIQUE BALDUCCI
“THE CLUB WILL CONTINUE TO DO ITS PART TO DEEPEN THE BONDS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.”
AUGUST | 5
LEADERSHIP
Who would be an ambassador? Besides the enormous respon-sibility of being a nation’s rep-resentative, the job has its own unique occupational hazards, like being summoned to the foreign ministry when a comment back home isn’t well received or being recalled by your own country as a political statement.
Despite all this, John Roos didn’t hesitate when asked by for-mer US President Barack Obama to serve as the country’s ambassa-dor to Japan in 2009.
“To have that honor and oppor-tunity, it was very much a no-brain-er making that decision,” he told my colleague, Owen Ziegler, just before receiving the Club’s Distinguished Achievement Award in June.
Amid the usual diplomatic and geopolitical considerations for any American ambassador in Japan, there are the many unpredictable events that need managing as well. And they don’t come much bigger than the country’s largest earth-quake ever recorded.
“[The March 2011 disaster] was a good example of the US step-ping up for an ally and for a friend that I think will pay dividends for decades,” he said.
Tending to such ties, Roos ex-plains on page 18, was central to the role. It’s for these efforts that he was honored by the Club.
Just as improving “international relations, especially between the United States and Japan” is en-shrined in the Club’s own Articles of Association, Roos embraced that notion every day.
“One of the things we’ve learned now is that these relationships have to be nurtured. They have to be taken care of and they have to be respected.”
Sporting Star Welcome
Diplomatic Honor You’ve Got a Friend
EDITOR
At a ceremony on June 20, former United States Ambassador John Roos received the Club’s Distinguished Achievement Award for his efforts to boost US–Japan relations.
Roos’ time as ambassador from 2009 to 2013 was highlighted by his direction of American humanitarian relief after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
“These relationships are important,” says Roos. “They need to be nurtured. I think one of the things we’re seeing now is that you absolutely cannot take them for granted.”
Past award recipients include astronaut Koichi Wakata, mountaineer Junko Tabei and literary scholar Donald Keene. On page 18, Roos discusses his term as America’s top diplomat in Japan. OZ
The Tokyo Olympics might still be a year away, but the Club is already gripped by Olympic fever. With the city beginning to host test events at various ven-ues, athletes have had their first chance to see the facilities where they will be competing next summer.
Since the Club will serve as USA House, the hospitality hub for the United States Olympic Committee, during the Games, American athletes have been visiting the Club for meet and greets. Track and field, gymnastics, softball, archery and beach volleyball teams have mingled with Members in the Winter Garden, and more are expected to visit over the coming year. NJ
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DIGEST
How to Think about War is an elegantly accessible translation of the speeches of Athenian general Thucydides on mili-tary conflict, diplomacy and the actions of nations in times of crisis. Other new Library titles include Nathan Hale’s Apocalypse Taco, a graphic novel for fans of both tacos and alternate al-ien dimensions, and On a Magical Do-Nothing Day, Beatrice Alemagna’s beautifully illustrated children’s book about exploring nature. DD
Ahead of the Club’s Board of Governors election and Annual General Meeting in November, Members are encouraged to take part in the democratic process by registering to vote.
“As Members, we can make our voices heard by voting for governors who we think best represent the Membership’s values and needs,” says the Nominating Committee’s Risa Dimacali.
Since only Voting Members can cast a ballot at Club general meetings or run as a candidate in the election, Members should register by downloading a Voting Member registration form from the Club Articles of Association & Rules page of the Club website, filling it out and submitting it to Member Services. NJ
History Lessons Getting Out the Vote
Boy Wonder Nordic BlissRelocated Grapes
It’s no coincidence that Swedish thera-py hails from one of the least-stressed countries in the world. With its long, kneading strokes, this Spa treatment is the perfect antidote to the strains of summer travel. And if you book this 60- or 90-minute treatment or any of the other three rejuvenating ther-apies for a weekday, you’ ll enjoy a stress-busting 20 percent discount. OZ
Who says Napa-grown grapes needvineyard-side wineries? Not Calif- ornia’s Broc Cellars, an urban win-ery importing mature grapes to its Berkeley storeroom and sidestep-ping the costs of processing in the valley. Available at The Cellar for ¥3,300 per bottle, Broc’s 2017 Love Red packs a medium-bodied complexity of black cherries you expect from a Napa blend at a price you don’t. OZ
WINEFILMS SPA
ELECTIONBOOKS
New York’s newest superhero can stop bullets and shoot lightning, but he can’t drive a car. That’s 14-year-old Bil-ly Batson’s new reality when he stum-bles upon mystical powers in Shazam! Also available at The Cellar this month are Alita: Battle Angel, the Hollywood adaptation of the Japanese manga classic, and Styx, the gripping tale of a solo sailing voyage interrupted by a sinking ship of refugees. OZ
AUGUST | 7
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WORDS DOUGLAS HYMAS
After several Members had commend-ed my “boldness” in joining the House Committee, I wondered what I had taken on. But my experience has been enjoyable, and I’d like to offer some insight on the committee’s role in the Club’s governance process.
Since the Club is run by Members, we set the rules. We then ask the staff to ensure Members follow them. Not everybody agrees with all the rules, and there are mechanisms for feedback, such as the Tell TAC comment card, available online and around the Club.
Each comment or compliment is shared with Member leaders and a re-sponse, when requested, is provided by Club management. Not all sugges-tions can be adopted, but some lead to Club improvements.
For more immediate matters, our staff are generally adept at handling them. When there is a mismatch be-tween a Member’s expectation and a policy, staff are trained to find a swift resolution. In the rare case when a con-cern cannot be resolved simply, it may be referred to the committee.
As the Club is a private social club, we expect a higher standard of behav-ior than in a public facility. We take inappropriate behavior seriously and such conduct could result in discipli-nary action.
The committee also considers rule changes, which can be daunting. But rules are needed precisely where com-peting interests collide. People some-times refer to “common sense,” but this can be as diverse as the population. That’s why we aim for clear, practical rules that can be easily implemented. Where clarity at a granular level is dif-ficult to reach, we generally opt for a conservative rule.
As with any great organization, there’s always room for improvement. Suggestions and volunteers, therefore, are critical to ensuring a vibrant and evolving Club environment.
Douglas Hymas is chair of the Club’s House Committee.
Running for a Cause
When Ernesto A’ de lima lines up at the start of next year’s Tokyo Marathon, his mind won’t just be on the race. He is one of five Members to have won a Women’s Group-purchased charity runner spot in a recent Club lottery.
The places are in support of Japan for UNHCR, which offers aid to refugees, and Family House, a nonprofit that provides housing to the families of hospitalized children.
“I’ ll be keeping in mind how fortunate we are to support the families of children with chronic, life-threatening and life-shortening illnesses,” says A’ de lima (pictured center).
Also set to run on March 1 are Alicia Fernandez, Junji Koike (pictured right), Ai Lynn and Takashi Kondo (pictured left). NJ
Tattersalls Club Behind the Scenes
GOVERNANCERECIPROCAL CLUB
MAR ATHON
Before Japan hosts rugby’s World Cup next month, where better for a last-minute trip than Sydney, the birthplace of Australian rugby? And what better place to base yourself than Tattersalls Club?
Since 1858, the downtown club’s dining and fitness facilities and packed social calendar have drawn leading figures in the city’s business, sporting and cultural communities.
The club might have historical ties with horseracing (the country’s first race-course was in present-day Hyde Park nearby), but its members now pursue a range of social interests, from Australian rules football and snooker to whisky and, naturally, surfing. OZ
tattersallsclub.org
AUGUST | 9
DIGEST
1Summer SudsBeat the heat all summer with ¥750 pints of Suntory The Premium Malt’s all around the Club. Through September 30 Rainbow Café, Café Med, Traders’ Bar, American Bar & Grill, CHOP Steakhouse Adults only Details online
1Fall Recreation Class RegistrationAfter a lazy summer by the pool, find your focus this fall with an energizing fitness class or wellness-inducing course. Browse the dozens of options on the Club website. Details online
1–31Lucky Break BowlingTwo games and a high score is all you need to walk away from the lanes with a fantastic prize. Bowling Center ¥300 (game fee excluded) Ages 18 & under Details online
2Mommy and Toddler TimeMingle with other mothers at this family-friendly get-together every Friday afternoon. 2pm Childcare Center Free
2Game NightBreak out the dice, the cards and the retro board games at this kids-only night of old-school fun. 5:30–8pm Toko Shinoda & Makiko Yuki classrooms ¥3,240 (guests: ¥3,900) Ages 5–12 Sign up online
2Perfect Porterhouse NightThe best things in life come in threes, like this winning trifecta of 21oz (600g) strip loin, 5oz (140g) tenderloin and bone marrow. Make it a Friday habit you won’t want to kick. 6–11pm CHOP Steakhouse ¥12,500 Reservations recommended
Events in August
1Weekday
Pizza MadnessMargherita, pepperoni, four cheese and fig or Sicilian eggplant? Whether you get one pie or all, Café Med’s oven-cooked pizzas are half price each and every weekday afternoon.
While you debate your toppings, whet your appetite on these pizza-tastic facts. OZ
1933The year New York City’s Patsy’s Pizzeria started selling by the slice, kick-starting the modern trend.
SCREAMERSPizza chef lingo for canned mushrooms, named for their sound when they hit a hot pan.
SIX-INCH SALAMIThe first pie to leave the atmosphere aboard a Russian rocket en route to the International Space Station.
350The number of slices eaten in the United States every second.
MOON KY LEEThe name of the Seoul-based chef and freestyle acrobatic dough-tossing champion at the 2019 World Pizza Games.
$12,000The price of the Louis XIII pizza, topped with seven different cheeses, three types of caviar and Mediterranean lobster. Serves two.
Weekdays 3–5pm Café Med Details online
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AGENDA
3–4World Weekend BuffetSay goodbye to meal-planning stress and leave the gastronomic decision-making up to Rainbow Café’s chefs at this family-friendly feast. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥3,220; juniors (ages 12–17): ¥2,050; big kids (ages 7–11): ¥1,500; little kids (ages 3–6): ¥1,030; infants (2 & under): free
3–4Surf ’n’ Turf SpecialAdd a whole lobster tail to any weekend steak dinner for just ¥1,970. Enjoy the best of both culinary worlds. 5–9:30pm American Bar & Grill, Traders’ Bar Details online
5Private Swim Lesson RegistrationBook your own personal session with the Sky Pool’s experienced instructors when registration opens for private lessons. Details online
5Rooftop MondaysHead to the Club’s rooftop beer garden for drinks and summer bites under the stars. Continues every Monday, except national holidays. 6–9pm Splash! Food and drinks (two hours): ¥5,310; food only: ¥3,150; Nightfall wine upgrade: ¥5,850 Details online
5–8Junior Squash CampKids pick up squash fundamentals and fitness tips during a four-day clinic with Tomotaka Endo, Club instructor and Japan’s top-ranked pro. 9am–4pm Squash Courts, Gymnasium, O-Zone ¥34,560 (guests: ¥41,470) Ages 7–16 Sign up online
6Kids’ Group and Swim Team RegistrationSplash around with friends or perfect your competitive form as registration begins for group lesson and Mudsharks swim team slots. Details online
6GALLERY RECEPTION:
Moriji MurakamiRather than oils or ink, Moriji Murakami wields rich, Indonesian batik dyes and lavish Tyrian purple to imbue his silk canvases with unimaginable depth.
Through September 2, Murakami’s exhibition of dyed pieces promises to draw you in for a closer look. OZ
Moment I realized I wanted to become an artist.As a child, I was a big fan of [enka singers] Chiyoko Shimakura and Hibari Misora and their beautiful outfits, so I became interested in stage costume design.
What I would tell my 20-year-old self. I was quite rigorous about improving my technique at that age, so I would say,
“Well done.”
My perfect creative environment.I think my workshop is just about the perfect creative environment, if a little small.
Artist, living or dead, I’d most like to share a meal with. The artist whose works moved me when I first moved to Tokyo, [nihonga painter] Kawai Gyokudo.
6:30–7:30pm Frederick Harris Gallery (B1 Formal Lobby) Free Open to adults, invitees and Members only
AUGUST | 11
23–25East Asian Squash
ChampionshipsJust one month after the Club celebrated 10 years of the TAC Premier Classic squash tournament, the Squash Courts welcome East Asia’s top players for three days of intense competition.
Teams of three men and two women from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea and Taiwan will do battle in this annual tournament.
The round-robin competition is the highest-profile squash event ever staged by the Club.
“As this is the only senior international event in Japan, it is a very important opportunity for players to test their skills against other teams,” says Noriko Kamiya, managing director of the Japan Squash Association.
Although the number of squash courts is declining in Japan, the sport’s popularity among youngsters is growing, according to Kamiya.
“Since Japan’s top players started producing good results in major events, including a bronze medal for the women’s team in last year’s Asian Games, we feel our junior players are becoming more serious,” she says.
At last year’s East Asian Squash Championships in South Korea, Hong Kong won a record 12th title.
While seating is limited in the courts’ gallery area during the tourney, Members will be able to catch all the action on screens in the Gymnasium. NJ
8:30am–8pm Squash Courts Details online
6T-Bone TuesdaysMarvel at the marbling of your complimentary 5oz (140g) tenderloin when you order any T-bone steak at this weekly CHOP special. 6–11pm CHOP Steakhouse Reservations recommended
8 & 27Squash Social NightMeet fellow Club squash lovers and test yourself against Club pro Peter Amaglio and former national champ Hitoshi Ushiogi. 6:30pm Squash Courts Free
8 & 31Fitness Center OrientationStart on the road to wellness with a beginner’s guide to the Fitness Center. And if you haven’t consulted a trainer in the past six months, you’ll receive 50 percent off a 60-minute session. August 8: 6:30–7pm; August 31: 10–10:30am Fitness Center Free
9Club MaintenanceThe Club closes for its annual day of maintenance work and a staff recognition event. Details online
9–12Upgrade Work The Fitness Center floor mats get an upgrade while the whirlpool bath in the Men’s Locker Room undergoes repairs. Details online
10Art AttackPaint your own sparkling unicorn that jumps off the canvas. 10:30am–12:30pm Toko Shinoda & Makiko Yuki classrooms ¥3,780 (guests: ¥4,540) Ages 6–12 Sign up online
10–11Sleepover at the ClubThe Club’s overnight extravaganza of field trips, games and flicks returns for a summer session. 8:30am–11:30am (August 11) ¥17,280 (guests: ¥20,740) Ages 8–12 Details online
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AGENDA
10–12World Weekend BuffetThis spread of Tex-Mex favorites will have you singing the praises of the Rainbow Café chefs in two languages. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥3,220; juniors (ages 12–17): ¥2,050; big kids (ages 7–11): ¥1,500; little kids (ages 3–6): ¥1,030; infants (2 & under): free
10–18CHOP BreakThe Club’s home of premium American steaks takes a summer break. Details online
17–18World Weekend BuffetHomesick for hamburgers? Feast on American classics all weekend at Rainbow Café. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥3,220; juniors (ages 12–17): ¥2,050; big kids (ages 7–11): ¥1,500; little kids (ages 3–6): ¥1,030; infants (2 & under): free
18Shoot Pool Like a ProProfessional Hideaki Arita shows youngsters the ropes before putting on a display of trick shot mastery. 10–11:30am Bowling Center ¥3,500 Ages 10–18 Sign up online
20Cocktail ConnectionsKick back at a fun evening of happy-hour drinks and mingling. 5pm CHOP Steakhouse Women’s Group members only Details online
21Toastmasters LuncheonPolish your public speaking and leadership skills at this regular Club gathering of motivational voices. 12–1:30pm Washington & Lincoln rooms ¥2,380 (guests: ¥2,765) Sign up online
24–25Sleepover at the ClubTurn the Club into your own private slumber party one last time this summer. 8:30am–11:30am (August 25) ¥17,280 (guests: ¥20,740) Ages 8–12 Details online
24–25World Weekend BuffetRich spices, fresh seafood and noodles galore are on the menu at this showcase of East Asian cuisine. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥3,220; juniors (ages 12–17): ¥2,050; big kids (ages 7–11): ¥1,500; little kids (ages 3–6): ¥1,030; infants (2 & under): free
26Coffee ConnectionsChew the fat over a cup of joe with old friends and new acquaintances during this monthly get-together. 10am CHOP Steakhouse Free Women’s Group members only Details online
30Ladies’ Squash ClinicLearn the basics of squash or refine your game with Club professional Noriko Kamiyama. 10–11:30am Squash Courts 2 & 3 Free Sign up online
30Premium FridayClear your calendar, switch off your phone and enjoy this supercharged summer TGIF of happy-hour bites and drinks. 3–7pm Winter Garden, Traders’ Bar Details online
30Smash Bros Boot CampVideo games are serious business at this training session with Japan’s top Super Smash Bros Melee pro. On page 21, Masaya “aMSa” Chikamoto explains what it takes to make it in esports. 7–8:30pm Washington & Lincoln rooms ¥1,300 (guests: ¥1,560) Ages 6 & above Sign up online
31–September 1World Weekend BuffetRainbow Café chefs serve up a spread of new recipes and old favorites for all ages and palates. 11am–8:30pm Rainbow Café Adults: ¥3,220; juniors (ages 12–17): ¥2,050; big kids (ages 7–11): ¥1,500; little kids (ages 3–6): ¥1,030; infants (2 & under): free
The three-on-three basketball ath-letes at next year’s Summer Games in Tokyo will be the first Olympians of their kind. But they’ll owe it to players like former Wake Forest University guard and Member Spencer Jennings (pictured) for growing the game over the years.
At this free clinic, which is fol-lowed by a friendly team tourna-ment, Jennings and his fellow Cray-on team pros coach young ballers in the fundamentals of the new Olym-pic sport. Beyond helping young-sters adjust to the 12-second shot clock, the one- and two-pointers and the first-to-21 scoring system, Spencer hopes his lessons translate off the court, too.
“Every kid that I train will learn something new about basketball,” says Jennings. “But it’s more impor-tant to me that they leave feeling positive, motivated and that they learned something they can take home with them and apply to their relationships, schoolwork and day-to-day life.” OZ
3-ON-3 CLINIC 1:30–2:45pm Gymnasium Free Ages 6–13 Details online
3-ON-3 TOURNAMENT 3–4:30pm Gymnasium ¥1,500 per team Ages 15 & above Sign up online
243-on-3
Clinic and Tournament
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30Experiencing the Essence of Japan
The British might be known for their fondness of a “cuppa” and India seemingly can’t live without chai, but only in Japan is tea taken so seriously that there are traditional ceremonies devoted to making it.
This month, Members will have an exclusive opportunity to experience one such sado ceremony with a master of the tradition. Sosho Kobori (pictured), whose family has been teaching the Enshu style of chanoyu for more than 400 years, will introduce Members to the rituals of preparing matcha tea at the family house in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district.
This Women’s Group-supported cultural event will be further enhanced by a meal of cha kaiseki, a traditional cuisine based on the tea ceremony. Dishes of delicately flavored, seasonal ingredients will be prepared by the
master chef of Kaiseki Komuro, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Shinjuku.
Limited to just 40 guests across two sessions, the ladies-only experience concludes with a sampling of the cosmetics of Sensai, a Japanese luxury brand whose products incorporate Koishimaru silk extract, which is produced in only limited areas in Japan.
First launched in Harrods department store in London, Sensai opens its first store in Japan in Isetan Shinjuku next month.
This day of traditional culture and cutting-edge skincare science is sure to leave participants with a deep appreciation for Japan’s own take on the drink savored the world over. NJ
11am–12:45pm & 1:30–3:15pm Free Sign up online
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AGENDA
1–30Classic NightsCulinary trends change, but good taste never goes out of fashion. Enjoy a menu of yesteryear Club favorites all month. 6–10pm (closed September 5) American Bar & Grill Details online
4Moules Frites SpecialThis iconic Belgian combo of steamed mussels, crispy fries and a baguette returns by popular demand. 11am–8:30pm Café Med Moules frites: ¥1,730; Blue Moon Belgian White: ¥760 Details online
5Enrichment Class RegistrationStill going strong in its 70th year, the Women’s Group kicks off another semester of classes designed to teach new skills, hone old talents and expand social circles. 10am Sign up online
13Club Speaker Series: Jim RogersThe Singapore-based, American investor and multimillionaire offers his thoughts on the future of the Japanese economy, Asian investment opportunities and more at this dinner event. 7–8:30pm Washington & Lincoln rooms ¥10,500 (guests: ¥12,500) Sign up online
17–18Tokyo Here & NowLearn from experts in everything from earthquake preparedness to local cuisine at this comprehensive, two-day orientation on thriving in Japan. More on page 36. 8:30am–2pm Manhattan I ¥10,800 (guests and non-Members: ¥16,200) Open to the public Sign up online
Coming up in
September
6First Friday: Rugby World Cup
Rugby fans breathed a sigh of relief earlier this summer when the organizers of this year’s World Cup in Japan vowed to keep the beer flowing during the tournament.
Following concerns that venues may run out of beer, the tournament’s main beer sponsor reassured the organizing committee that the stadium taps would not run dry.
There are similar guarantees for the Club’s own pre-tournament celebration. The evening is a chance for Members to raise a glass (or a few) to Japan’s first-ever staging of rugby’s showcase event while enjoying some post-vacation mingling with friends and the DJ tunes of Søren “Cash” Petersen.
With the 20-team World Cup kicking off on September 20, First Friday attendees are encouraged to don rugby shirts for the evening. NJ
6–8pm Winter Garden, American Bar & Grill ¥2,160 (guests: ¥5,940); walk-ins: ¥3,240 (guests: ¥7,020) Limit: five guests per membership Sign up online
11Women’s Group Welcome BackFind some relief from the post-vacation clutter and back-to-school challenges at a morning of inspiration and possibility.
This energizing showcase of the Women’s Group’s activities is a chance to discover new interests and circles of friends while learning how to make the most of life in Japan.
Explore the group’s calendar of upcoming social events, fundraising sales and tours, meet the instructors of the dozens of cultural, cooking, art and lifestyle classes and find an outlet for your professional skills with this international group of volunteers and friends.
Whether you’re a nervous newcomer to Tokyo or a seasoned Japan hand, make it a season of change at this free event. NJ
10am–12pm Manhattan III Free Light refreshments served Details online
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ADVERTORIAL
The importance of kindergarten classes can’t be emphasized strongly enough: children’s ex-periences at this stage of school
can shape the rest of their educational careers. A leader in early education, Aoba-Japan International School (A-JIS) offers learning opportunities that help young minds blossom.
NATURAL LEARNINGExplaining A-JIS’s kindergarten curricu-lum, kindergarten three (K3) teacher Teresa Velez said that children are encouraged to learn in a natural way, motivated by their own curiosity: “We carry four themes throughout the entire year. These are who we are, how we express ourselves, where we are in place and time and how the world works. We teach children to inquire and to ask questions. It’s not spoon-feed-ing; it’s more experience-based. I think Aoba is a good place for them to learn because of this.” Learning goals at the school are achieved using a variety of approaches: literacy, numeracy and other skills are introduced at learning centers located within classrooms.
Kindergarten classes at A-JIS are grounded in inquiry-based lessons,
where the teacher encourages the students to learn through questions. Talking about some recent lessons, Velez explained how the children used play-based learning to develop understanding: “The children discov-ered how to make toys out of recycled materials. Another example was when we were playing rock-paper-scissors. Instead of using their hands the chil-dren used their bodies, so they were jumping around. That was really fun.”
The kindergarten children at A-JIS spend plenty of time outside, and ses-sions to develop motor skills take place every morning. The children go outside to play, so they feel alert and awake before they enter the classroom. “Even if it rains, even if it’s snowing, we still go outside,” Velez said.
FAMILY FRIENDLYIn addition to providing ample opportu-nities for kindergarten-aged children to explore knowledge and express them-selves, A-JIS prides itself on offering ser-vices that give parents peace of mind. “One of the unique things we offer is our after-school program,” Velez explained. The after-school program gives children whose parents are working, or who are
unable to pick them up, a place to stay and enjoy themselves.
Velez also spoke about an app called Seesaw that the kindergarten teach-ers can use to keep parents informed about their child’s activities throughout the day: “Whatever activity that we have at school, we update it on See-saw so parents will know what we are doing. It’s really easy for them to access as well because they can use it on their phones. We can send videos, pictures, and updates on what we are doing. It is very effective.”
BUILDING FUTURESThe kindergarten teachers at A-JIS form strong bonds with their classes every year. As A-JIS teaches children from kin-dergarten to high school, teachers are able to watch children grow into globally minded learners. Velez explained that the most important part of kindergarten is to set the stage for children’s develop-ment: “I think children should be enjoy-ing their stay in kindergarten, so they can feel confident pursuing their studies in grade school. We prepare the children with life skills that they need wherever they will go, including how to be inde-pendent and how to be global citizens.”
Early AdvantageAoba-Japan International School prepares young learners for bright futures.
www.japaninternationalschool.com
AUGUST | 17
ADVERTORIAL
Creative GrowthSummerhill International School encourages curiosity and imagination in young learners.
The early years are crucial ones in a child’s education. Inspir-ing a love of learning at this age creates a foundation for
a great academic future. One school where curiosity is nurtured in an internationally minded environment is Summerhill International School. Known for its high-quality learning approaches, Summerhill, which is based in Azabu Juban, teaches chil-dren from 15 months to five years old. Stressing the importance of children’s formative years, Anita Sutton, direc-tor of Summerhill, spoke about how the school guides children towards a lifetime of learning.
INTERNATIONAL MINDSSummerhill focuses on basic skills in preparation for International Baccalau-reate (IB) programs. Sutton explained: “In our junior infants’ classes we have a big focus on physical development, which is in line with international research as an area that is lacking in children under the age of three. To be able to read and write for extended periods of time, children need time to develop their fine motor and gross motor skills and be a part of environ-ments that encourage their curiosity.”
Summerhill children and their par-ents can expect the same type of challenging approaches to learning
that would be offered in other coun-tries around the world. As Sutton said: “We do not make up a pretend curriculum. We understand develop-mentally appropriate practices in the early years and ensure that our chil-dren have the best start to meaning-ful development in their early years—the most formative years of their life.” At the school, children rang-ing in age from 15 months to three years do not receive an official IB accreditation. However, the learning methods are inspired by IB and Reg-gio techniques, which are practiced around the world and encourage a collaborative approach. “The teach-ers are not teachers—they are seen as facilitators in the children’s learning,” Sutton explained.
STEAMChildren have a natural disposition towards science, which they express through their sense of curiosity and creativity. Summerhill has incorpo-rated science, technology, engineer-ing, art and mathematics (STEAM) approaches into all of their classes. As Sutton pointed out: “STEAM is just as relevant in the junior infant classes as it is in the older classes. Follow-ing natural research, it makes sense to implement these concepts in the younger years. STEAM, however, is
not delivered in set out ‘lessons.’ Our approach to learning and exploration of STEAM concepts is through play, throughout the day.
“Mixing colors is a scientific approach to experimentation because children are watching and trying to process what is happening. They don’t have to know what the names of the colors are, they just know that something happens when you mix two chemicals together. It is science—we just do it in a childlike way that is safe and that they’re able to understand,” Sutton added.
Sutton strongly believes in the impor-tance of looking at young children’s education with a long view in mind: “Childhood is not a race. It is a small window to explore the world in wonder, at your own pace.” Summerhill, which encourages children to “learn how to learn” and grow into globally minded individuals, is a school that takes this spirit to heart with every student.
www.summerhill.jp
Goodwill Ambassador
The latest recipient of the Club’s Distinguished Achievement
Award, former US Ambassador John Roos reflects on his four years in Japan and the work of reinforcing ties.
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J ohn Roos’ resume is not lack-ing: a Stanford law degree, 30 years at Silicon Valley’s preeminent law firm and a
political track record dating back to his support of Walter Mondale’s 1984 presidential bid.
But was it enough to equip him for the role of United States ambassador to Japan?
“No,” says Roos, 64. “Nothing to-tally prepares you for the position. It helps that you’ve had the background that you’ve had, but the day-to-day re-sponsibilities are different than what you expect.
“And then,” he adds poignantly, “events overtake everything.”
Roos’ defining response to the cir-cumstances of his ambassadorship between 2009 and 2013 would help both countries overcome historical im-pediments to jointly manage an un-precedented disaster. Such leadership earned him the Club’s Distinguished Achievement Award, which he re-ceived during a June visit to Tokyo.
That Roos can now call the Club home (the award includes membership for three years) is just rewards considering he began his tenure with a concerted effort to understand the country on a level beyond the halls of political power.
“I wanted to listen much more than I spoke in the initial months,” Roos recalls. “It was more important that I learn than I just talked, and we really did go on a listening tour.”
Roos’ off icial trips throughout Japan made him one of the most well-traveled ambassadors in the office’s history. At one point during his itinerary of discussions with local John Roos
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leaders, a security officer informed Roos that he had unconsciously visited half of Japan’s 47 prefectures.
“At that point, we said, ‘Well, it’d be interesting to travel all over,’” Roos says. “In part because there are so many incredible parts to Japan, and in part because many [Japanese people] had never seen a US ambassador.”
Roos would complete the prefec-tural circuit near the end of his am-bassadorship, a footnote to his role in US-Japan relations. His visits to the city of Hiroshima, in particular, de-serve more attention.
For six and a half decades, US am-bassadors had conspicuously avoided official visits to the annual memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Naga-saki. Personal visits, like the one Roos and his family made to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum shortly af-ter arriving in Japan, had always been considered separate.
A combination of his tour of the city ’s haunting monuments to that fateful day in August 1945 and President Barack Obama’s stirring 2009 speech in Prague on nuclear disarmament spurred Roos to act.
He informed Washington of his intent to attend the 2010 peace memorial ceremony.
“There wasn’t a lot of resistance to going,” Roos says of the response from back home. “It was just that everyone
felt that if we were going to do it, it had to be done correctly.”
Though the question of an apology caused plenty of hand-wringing in the American media, a 2016 Japan Times poll revealed that 62 percent of Japa-nese citizens neither expected nor de-sired any such admission. In addition, leaked diplomatic cables highlighted Japanese politicians’ focus on moving forward rather than looking back.
On the morning of the 65th anni-versary of the dropping of the world’s first atomic bomb, the sun rose over Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. Roos sat quietly among the crowd gathered for the ceremony. In a com-memorative book, he expressed con-trition for all victims embroiled in the chaos of World War II. He made no public comment.
Small gestures, perhaps, but history will credit Roos with normalizing visits of American diplomats to Hiroshima and Nagasaki and for paving the way for Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima in 2016.
“Hiroshima and Nagasaki were probably the low points of the relation-ship between our two countries,” says Roos. “Showing respect and acknowl-edging what happened is important for moving forward.”
Roos’ diplomatic worldview is gov-erned not by transactional expecta-tions but the mutual benefits of Amer-
ican altruism. If his efforts to move the US and Japan beyond their belligerent past failed to communicate that to the world, his response to the catastrophic events of March 11, 2011 would make the point.
“When the earthquake hit,” Roos recalls, “we felt the [embassy] building was going to come down.”
Camped in the embassy parking lot, Roos received updates on the severity of the quake, the encroaching tsuna-mi and the developing situation at the Fukushima No 1 nuclear power plant. Months prior, Roos had serendipitous-ly requested evacuation briefings in the event of an attack from North Korea.
“I declared an emergency,” Roos explains. “The president was informed, then the secretary of state. All that happened within a matter of minutes.”
When Roos sat down that evening with Japan’s foreign minister, he spoke for all of America.
“The message was: this crisis is so big and you’re not only an important ally but a friend,” says Roos. “We will do whatever it takes to help.”
Operation Tomodachi was Amer-ica’s humanitarian response to the crisis. Dozens of naval vessels deliv-ered emergency relief, while military personnel assisted search and rescue efforts throughout the Tohoku region.
Under Roos’ direction, this rapid assistance would lead to the highest favorability ratings of the US by Japanese citizens in recorded history.
“[The 2011 disaster] was a good example of the US stepping up for an ally and for a friend that I think will pay dividends for decades,” says Roos.
It’s a diplomatic approach he hopes all successive US ambassadors to Japan will embrace and anywhere else the US aspires to strengthen ties.
“This is not a zero-sum game,” Roos says. “These relationships are a win-win scenario and I think one of the things we’re seeing now is that you absolutely cannot take them for granted.”
“SHOWING RESPECT AND ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT HAPPENED IS IMPORTANT FOR MOVING FORWARD.”
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L as Vegas. 2013. The biggest video game tournament in the world.
Dozens of Super Smash Bros fans crowd around an old-school TV set. Player 1: so ruthless in his dis-patch of challengers he’s been dubbed one of the game’s legendary “five gods.”
Player 2: a newcomer from Japan. An unknown.
The throng presses in. The newbie is holding his own.
“What am I seeing?” one spectator asks incredulously.
“Is this guy for real?” another won-ders out loud.
“I didn’t feel fear or anything,” Masaya Chikamoto recalls of nearly pulling off a miraculous upset at his f irst overseas tournament. “I just thought, ‘How fun to play a top player.’”
Better known today by his gamer tag, “aMSa,” Chikamoto is a bona fide celebrity in the world of Super Smash Bros Melee, a profoundly technical fighting game packaged as a cartoonish beat ’em up. Since that 2013 tournament, Chikamoto has become Japan’s top player and is currently ranked ninth in the world.
Despite coming to competitive gaming later than most, the 27-year-old’s rapid success has earned him sponsorships with several esports out-fits, including Red Bull.
It’s validation of the seven years spent poring over the game’s mechan-ics to refine the muscle memory and precision timing needed to dodge and parry attacks.
Leveling Up Ahead of the Club’s first boot camp for young gamers, one top-ranked gaming pro explains why it’s so much more than fun and games when he presses play.
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“Just playing the game doesn’t mean you’re a professional,” says Chikamoto. “Getting sponsored really changed my mind.”
Chikamoto imparts those skills, along with his determination and dedication, to young gamers at this month’s Smash Bros Boot Camp.
Going pro wasn’t always Chikamo-to’s plan. In esports as in traditional athletics, however, the cream rises to the top.
“Even if just 0.1 percent of players are interested in the competitive scene,” Chikamoto says, “that’s still thousands.”
For fans, the esports-sports analogy holds true. Just as millions are content to merely watch the soccer mastery of Lionel Messi, 18,000 spectators are expected to attend an esports tournament in Beijing this month. On the line? $26 million.
“Trying to f igure out whether esports are really sports is kind of meaningless,” Chikamoto explains. “I just want people to f ind what’s happening onscreen entertaining.”
Chikamoto practices religiously. He and his coach, retired pro Akihiro “Kaito” Nomura, don’t play games; they perform techniques tailored to opponents, and they don’t stop until
Chikamoto executes on command and under pressure.
“Our training sessions are always changing,” says Nomura. “After tour-naments, there’s so much feedback we go over, so we train a lot then.”
Chikamoto’s sponsored support allowed him to leave his comput-er engineering office this spring to focus on gaming full-time. It’s a re-lief, he explains, because despite his ranking, he hasn’t yet won a major international title.
At a Los Angeles tournament in June, Chikamoto sat down to a round-robin match against the reigning world No 1, another of the fabled five gods.
After 30 minutes of focus, dexterity and onscreen improvisation, the end was in sight.
“aMSa’s up one!” blurted a spectator.“There’s a chance!”“Did that just happen?”He had outclassed a gaming god. “That wasn’t bad,” Chikamoto says,
“but I think I could do more.”
SMASH BROS BOOT CAMP 7–8:30pm Washington & Lincoln rooms ¥1,300 (guests: ¥1,560) Ages 6 & above Sign up online or at Member Services
Masaya Chikamoto
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T here’s no question that Japan is test-obsessed.For elementary to high school students, it’s a
common routine: wrap up afternoon classes and clubs, scarf down a snack and then head to early
evening cram schools for a few more hours buried in text-books until it’s all they can do to crawl into bed.
Parents mean well, and entrance exam results can make the toil seem worth it, but might budding minds benefit from a little extracurricular variety?
This month, registration for the Club’s slate of after-school programs opens to inject some educational excitement into young Members’ lives.
These athletic, artistic and academic pursuits are the perfect opportunity for children and young adults to explore new horizons or hone nascent talents. Under the guidance
of engaging instructors with real-world experience in the worlds of performing arts, professional sports and more, the sky’s the limit for students hungry to learn more than what they see written on a whiteboard.
All work and no play might well make Jack a dull boy, but you won’t find one among the Club’s bright-eyed fencers, ballerinas and martial artists.
Leading EdgeWhen her friends asked why she signed up for her first fencing class at the Club 18 months ago, Rika Sasakawa had to start by explaining the basics of the sport.
“They asked, ‘What do you do? What’s it like being hit in the head?’” says Rika, 10. “The bang is pretty loud but you get used to it.”
With the Club gearing up for another semester of extracurricular programs, young Members describe the excitement of discovering their newest passions.
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Rika Sasakawa
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Rika knows that fencing isn’t the most com-mon after-school program for girls her age, but that just ups the appeal. Talented enough to compete in tournaments across Japan, she re-cently placed fifth in a field of nine competitors.
Rika is modest enough not to brag, but that placing came against fencers one and two years older and with more experience.
“Even though it was a small competition,” Rika explains, “your confidence still grows.”
In class, Rika has become something of a teacher’s assistant for the Club’s youngest fenc-ers, too.
“They think they’re making their move-ments really small,” Rika says of her unofficial protégés. “But they actually learn. The next time they come [to class], the parts I say not to do, they don’t do.”
For now, coach Koji Emura, who competed in the individual and team foil events at the 1988 Olympics and served as director of the Japan Fencing Federation, is preparing Rika for her
next tournament. She might still be honing her skills, but any fencers who find themselves at the end of Rika’s saber won’t see how quick and accurate she’s becoming. She’ll make them feel it first.
Sparring PartnersThere’s one rule that Jessica and Jayden Tap-penden’s taekwondo instructor always makes them follow: no sparring at home on one an-other or their dad.
That balance of discipline and engagement is exactly what Member Matthew Tappenden hoped his children would pick up through the Club’s taekwondo course.
“When we were looking at [classes], we thought karate or some of the other ones might be too serious,” says Tappenden. “Their instruc-tor makes it really fun, but they’re still learning [self-defense]. It’s a nice balance.”
Two years older than her brother, Jessica, 11, was the first to pick up taekwondo five years
“EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SMALL COMPETITION, YOUR CONFIDENCE STILL GROWS.” –Rika Sasakawa
Jayden Tappenden
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structor hasn’t let them slip on their discipline. Jessica holds a blue and red belt, two levels higher than Jayden. He desperately wants to catch up, but he’s mature enough to put any sibling rivalry aside.
His sister, Jayden sheepishly admits, is the better fighter.
“Very polite,” says his father with a laugh. “Very well done.”
En PointeEmily Schamisso isn’t sure if she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She just knows she likes moving along to the music in Keiko Krissman’s Essential Ballet for Kids class.
“I like the [moves] where you jump,” says Emily, 6. “It’s easier and it doesn’t really hurt your legs or make you tired.”
Each class features a group dance of several steps, which can include up to 10 distinct jumps, spins and plies. After a year of ballet, Emily says setting all those steps and movements to memory can be tough.
“I like the short [dances],” she says. “They’re easier to do.”
If Emily had to choose today, she’d rather be a teacher than a principal. After all, she doesn’t have to be a world-class ballerina just yet, espe-cially when she’s having so much fun in class.
“I would probably teach like [Keiko],” she says. “Because then you could keep on remembering your steps.”
New SkillsAs the Club’s community of amateur dancers, future Olympians and more gear up for another semester, what better time for young Members to follow in their footsteps and expand their own horizons?
From August 1, registration opens for the fall semester of the Club’s enriching and engaging youth programs. Classics like the Mudsharks competitive swim courses are always a great choice to build confidence, and the likes of table magic and stunt choreography are sure to put a smile on any child’s face while still imparting valuable skills.
There’s always the option of doubling down on academics with experienced tutor-led SAT prep courses in mathematics, reading and writing. But there’s only so much textbook time young students can manage in a day.
With the Club’s youth programs, why not give them the chance to gain the dexterity, self-assuredness and lifelong passion no cram school can teach?
FALL RECREATION CLASS REGISTRATION From August 1 Details online
ago. She was the lone girl in her class at the time, which only added to the normal jitters of trying something new.
“I was nervous for a little bit, but I got used to it,” she says. “It was something where I could relax but learn at the same time.”
“Jessica looked strong after every class,” says Jayden, 9, who waited until his sixth birthday before joining his sister. “It motivated me to try to join in.”
Recently, Jessica and Jayden have been learning from new instructor Chuck Johnson, a fourth-dan black belt and professional stunt man.
“He’s taking it to another level,” Tappenden says. “It’s a little bit more intense, but he’s still got that right balance.”
Most of all, Jessica and Jayden’s new in-
“IT WAS SOMETHING WHERE I COULD RELAX BUT LEARN AT THE SAME TIME.” –Jessica Tappenden
Emily Schamisso
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Breaking the Poverty Cycle A board director with a UN-conceived microfinance investment fund, Member Omar Qandeel explains how loans—not philanthropy—can truly transform the lives of the world’s poor.
IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI
I came from a male-driven soci-ety in the Middle East and my father died when I was a child. My mother was the most influ-
ential person in my life, and I saw that she was working twice or three times as hard as a family with a mom and dad. My focus was always on how I could survive.
At some point, I realized I didn’t have to worry about financial survival. I started to do business on my own and then realized I could extend my care.
Then, more than 25 years ago, I went to a dinner where the guests of honor were the president of Finland and [microfinance pioneer] Dr Mu-hammad Yunus, before he won the No-bel Peace Prize. I sat next to him, and he really had something, an aura.
He told me they wanted to turn a bank in Egypt from a small organiza-tion into a proper microfinance bank. I collected the capital and it was a charitable project. Frankly, in the be-ginning, I thought Dr Yunus was just
a nice guy, but we were going to lose all the money. I couldn’t tell him that because I liked him. “Poor people are going to give us back the money? He’s dreaming,” I thought.
I asked him when we would be-come self-sustainable. He told me at 10,000 clients. The bank grew quickly to 30,000 clients. I saw how we affect-ed people’s lives. I asked one woman what she did with the loan. She told me: “I paid off my debt to a loan shark and bought some shoes for my son, so he could go to school.”
I realized how a small amount of money could have a big impact. Anoth-er customer told me how the loan had helped break three generations of beg-ging [in her family]. I checked and saw that her first loan with us was for $50.
We are the product of circumstanc-es. We really shouldn’t judge people on that. I fundamentally believe that pov-erty is like a trap. When you are poor, you always have less money tomorrow than you have today. Once you take a microfinance loan and see that you can survive on your own, good things come out of humans. I believe microfinance could solve many of the world’s prob-lems if it’s utilized fully.
In the typical Western financial model, people focus on the value of things through their ownership. For example, in a company, people think the most important guys are the shareholders. We should focus on the stakeholder point of view—the man-agement, the staff, the customers, the supply chain. The growing wealth gap we are witnessing is because we are trying to maximize profits.
I think tools like microfinance are really tools of national security. You could connect the demographics of the French Revolution with the demo-graphics of the Arab Spring. If we had a thriving microfinance industry, po-litical upheaval would be less. I hope technology will make microfinance more accessible.
I have narrowed down my philos-ophy to one simple concept: the value of a human is measured by how many people he can positively impact. That, I think, is our main role as humans.
As told to INTOUCH’s Nick Jones.
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COMMUNIT Y | SIX DEGREES
USA | Logan & Katelin-Jane Bird
Lands’ End Japan K.K. “Moving to a new country with small children is exciting and a little intimidating. A home away from home where we could meet people, spend time as a family and relax was an important find. Our 3-year-old is most excited about the pool!”(l–r) Sunny-Faye, Logan, Gray and Katelin-Jane Bird
UK | James Harvey & Sae Ikenishi CBRE K.K.“This is our sixth year in Tokyo and we’ve enjoyed visiting the Club with friends and colleagues on numerous occasions. Ollie loves the jungle gym, pool and Rainbow Café and, as he’ll be starting school nearby this month, we felt it was time to benefit further from the Club as Members. I’m looking forward to exploring the reciprocal clubs when overseas and Sae will find the location helpful for her work. We’re excited about being active members of the community and making new connections.”(l–r) Oliver and James Harvey and Sae Ikenishi
Arrivals Up Close
Andrew Bolstein & Emily Wong
Russell Fleeger II & Sarah Fleeger
Yoko Hatano
Haruo & Kaori Komuro
Joe & Tae Kurosu
David & Antje Lennon
Mengjuan Li & Nianfei Zhang
Yan Ling & Kolin Hoff
Joseph & Keiko Marsh
Jeffrey & Keli J Okopny
Masamichi Ono
Christian & Carol Sandric
Aiko Tokuhisa
Soichiro Uchida
Paul Watts & Shigeko Kimura
George Ye
Departures
USA
Hikari Hasegawa Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Ltd.
Jento Huang & Elung Pon Astellas Pharma
Judith Deffebach
Katsunori Shirai Osaka Gakuin University
Mark Amin & Motoko Kimura Sobini Films
Matthew Ireton Ireton Entertainment, Inc.
AUSTR ALIA
Adam & Elecia Baylis KPMG Consulting Co., Ltd.
David & Aletha Ghijben Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
Stephen & Yumi Karpin Visa Worldwide
FR ANCE
David & Valerie Schajer Faurecia-Clarion
Pascal & Brely Peultier McDonald’s Company (Japan) Ltd.
JAPAN
Haruyasu & Mika Asakura Marunouchi Capital, Inc.
Jieun & Atsushi Miyasaka AJ International, Inc.
Junichi & Mari Kurokoshi Morrison & Foerster LLP
Kazuki & Yuri Moribe Spyder Initiative, Inc.
Keiko Nishimura Dentsu, Inc.
Koshiro & Asami Tamura Morgan Stanley Japan Group Co., Ltd.
Tatsuo & Miho Yoshikawa
Yoko & Naofumi Nishi Black Rock Japan
Yoshinori & Sumiko Matsubara Medical Corporation Houshikai
SOUTH KOREA
Kyongho Kwon & Miyuki Sekine Injestar, Inc.
Minyoung Kim & Kyung Lee McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Wines for all seasons.Visit The Cellar or the online Wine Shop.
AUGUST | 27
COMMUNIT Y | REGISTER
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EIRE Systems provides the highest level of IT services.
International Best Practices.Local Expertise.
United Dental Office | 2-3-8-1F Azabudai, Minato-ku03-5570-4334 | [email protected] www.uniteddentaloffice.com
General, Pediatric, and Orthodontic Dentistrywith Two US-licensed Dentists
• 5 minutes’ walk from TAC• Some foreign insurance accepted• Checkups and cleaning
Dr. Miwako HayashiNew York University Dental School graduatePedodontist and orthodontic trainingLicensed in New York, practiced in Manhattan
Dr. Hirokazu EnatsuUCLA School of Dentistry graduateLicensed in California Mentor at Kois Center
Heritage Home
WORDS SANDRA ISAKA
ILLUSTRATION TANIA VICEDO
F rom the day I arrived in Ja-pan, I knew this was where I was meant to be. Marrying a native of Kyoto, who con-
stantly introduces me to the city’s hid-den charms, has led me to conclude that this former imperial capital is my favorite place on the planet.
Last year, after much searching, we found the Kyoto home where we plan to grow old. It was a dark and rundown machiya in a neighborhood of artisans. At more than 150 years old, its crum-bling structure was showing its age.
Unfortunately, many people do not see the value of these traditional, nar-row, wooden townhouses. Government regulations have also made it too trou-blesome for most to renovate them. In Kyoto alone, hundreds are demolished every year.
Our machiya is the site of a former kimono obi factory in Nishijin’s tex-tile district. I love that we can still hear the clickety-clack of traditional looms weaving new silk obi sashes nearby.
Although the area is central and has great access to mass transportation, it is quiet and the sense of community is strong. On our frequent visits, everyone we have met in the neighborhood has been incredibly kind and welcoming.
The machiya’s exterior is hundreds of years old but cannot be modified, only repaired. The interior was gloomy and cramped, a major reason for the demise of this type of housing. Most people cannot see its potential.
Determined to restore our dwelling, my husband and I were introduced to a young architect, Atsushi Shimada, who specializes in renovating these tradi-tional buildings. I had always dreamed of designing my own home, so I passed him a hand-drawn floor plan on the day we met. Receptive to my Amer-ican-influenced ideas and my desire to approve absolutely everything, he set about creating a beautiful, modern Japanese home.
While completely gutted, the machiya retains much of its original
charm. The connecting structure at the rear was too badly damaged to repair, so a new structure was built in its place. Both parts of the house have a traditional feel, with dark beamed ceilings and antique doors.
The updated interior includes new plumbing, insulation, lots of windows and spacious rooms that look out over an interior garden. I can’t wait to decorate it all with Japanese artwork, pottery and other handcrafted items we have collected over the years.
For anyone interested in living in a traditional Japanese home, my advice would be to go for it. You can own a piece of history while making a small contribution to the beautification of Japan. Just be sure to choose a knowl-edgeable and flexible architect who is willing to make your dream a reality.
With our own renovation complete, we are thrilled to finally have a place to truly call home. Sandra Isaka is a Club Member.
AUGUST | 29
COMMUNIT Y | VOICE
30 | INTOUCH
ADVERTORIAL
Magic MachinePower Plate® offers versatile training for all users.
Since the 1990s, Power Plate, a vibrating platform that uses the patented PrecisionWave tech-nology, has been making waves
among fitness aficionados across the globe. The exercise device vibrates up and down, side to side and front to back at a speed of 35 to 50 times a second, destabilizing the body and triggering rapid responses in muscle fibers. This allows all users, whether they are elite athletes or beginners who are just get-ting into shape, to improve strength, develop flexibility and recover faster.
Club member Shinji Kanzaki (pic-tured) has been training with Power Plate for two decades. He spoke about how the machine has impacted his flexibility, mobility and golfing tech-nique. “The Power Plate is almost like magic—it seems to be able to do just about anything,” said Kanzaki when describing the many features of the training device. “It can adapt to work for a variety of needs. If you want to use it to help relieve tension, it can do that. If you want to build muscles, it can help you do that. It even works to help rehabilitation after an injury.”
As a long-time user, Kanzaki has been impressed by how Power Plate has improved over the years: “When I
two professional golfers who have pur-chased the highly portable Personal Power Plate models that they travel with to help them achieve peak perfor-mance when they’re on the road.
Paolo Olivieri, the Club’s fitness man-ager, is also a firm believer in Power Plate’s capacity to activate core mus-cles: “It’s a good machine to com-bine with others. Members use it to strengthen their core.” “We’ve had it for almost a year now and Members really like it.” Power Plate is widely used amongst professional athletes, including those in the National Football League and the National Basketball Association, but Members can expe-rience this revolutionary product for themselves in the Fitness Center or find out more about it online.
www.powerplate.com
first saw Power Plate, it only had two or three vibration settings. Now, there are eight vibration settings, and the device offers body workouts and sport-spe-cific settings that include basketball, baseball and golf.”
As Kanzaki explained, he uses Power Plate to get a complete workout that combines muscle training with stretch-ing. He is also an avid amateur golfer, and he said that Power Plate’s triggering of rapid muscle contractions improves his balance on and off the course: “If your balance is weak, then you will not have a good swing. Power Plate is great for training because the vibra-tions improve your stability.”
In addition to boosting stability, Power Plate training can increase rota-tional mobility. The rapid vibrations also cause multiple muscle contractions per second, leading to increased muscle recruitment and greater strength. Kanzaki said that he finds the results to be remarkable, and he believes Power Plate is a must-have for strengthening muscles: “As a golfer, I need strong inner muscles, but training those mus-cles is not easy. Power Plate strength-ens those hard-to-train muscles.” And Kanzaki is not alone in his high estima-tion of Power Plate: he personally knows
Shinji Kanzaki
AUGUST | 31
Full SwingShake your way to better golf with Power Plate.
When it comes to your golf performance, there’s a mar gin between your cur rent per formance
level and your full potential. Whether it’s improving your swing efficiency, hitting the ball harder or preventing niggling back injuries that come with long hours on the golf course, whole-body vibration with Power Plate can help you close the gap between good and great.
Poor efficiency and biomechanics can lead to injury, which can hamper golf-ers’ playing styles, prevent them from playing altogether and limit their activi-ties. Proper preparation, conditioning for performance and recovery are all keys to better golf.
Power Plate provides a dream solution for every golfer who’s short on time but wants and needs an effective, time-efficient preparation and conditioning program to assist in driving the ball fur-ther and reducing pain and risk of injury.
Performing warmup exercises on the Power Plate machine results in an almost instant increase in rotational mobility. Blood flow is increased and muscles are activated and warmed, allowing for greater range of motion. This improves swing efficiency for healthier golf. Strength-building move-ments on the Power Plate can condi-tion the body for the demands of golf and allow users to hit the ball further.
Finally, you can use Power Plate to boost circulation and relax muscles after a round. The result is reduced pain and stiffness and accelerated recovery, which means you can hit the links again all the sooner.
Members have the opportunity to participate in a special Power Plate golf conditioning workshop with Ken Sugawara, Total Golf Fit-ness managing director and Japan Olympic team medical science staff
member. Sugawara has trained pro-fessional golfers as a Japan Golf Tour and Ladies Professional Golf Asso-ciation tour trainer for many years. Give yourself an edge and book your space now.
Power Plate Golf WorkshopAugust 216:30–8:30pm | FreeManhattan I
ADVERTORIAL
June 2 Music RecitalAt the Club’s annual showcase of musical instrument prowess, a number of Members performed pieces for the audience of friends, family and teachers.
IMAGES KAYO YAMAWAKI
32 | INTOUCH
COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS
June 7 First Friday: Okinawa NightThe Winter Garden took on a decidedly laid-back vibe for a celebration of Japan’s southern isles that included Okinawan awamori liquor, local delicacies and sanshin folk tunes.
IMAGES YUUKI IDE
AUGUST | 33
June 19 & 24 Team USA Meet and GreetWith Tokyo gearing up for next year’s Olympics, the Club welcomed Team USA’s male gymnasts and female softballers for evenings of mingling with Members.
IMAGES YUUKI IDE & BENJAMIN PARKS
34 | INTOUCH
COMMUNIT Y | HIGHLIGHTS
June 29 Independance Day CelebrationThe only thing missing was the fireworks at the Club’s packed day of games, bowling, buffet favorites, pool fun and evening revelry for America’s birthday.
IMAGES YUUKI IDE
AUGUST | 35
TOKYO HERE & NOW September 17–18 8:30am–2pm Manhattan I ¥10,800 (non-Members: ¥16,200) Details online
PROGRAMTokyo Here & NowMoving abroad can be daunting. That’s why this two-day guide to living in Japan is designed to help new arrivals quickly assimilate through expert-led seminars on such subjects as healthcare,culture and earthquake preparedness. Organized by the Women’s Group, the program also offers the perfect chance to forge new friendships.
Thrive GuideSPEAKERMina NishisakaMina Nishisaka is co-executive direc-tor of WaNavi Japan, a nonprofit that supports international residents in Ja-pan through training sessions. A qual-ified disaster prevention specialist, she discusses earthquake preparedness at the Tokyo Here & Now program. She also teaches a course on Japanese cul-ture at Hitotsubashi Business School.
PARTICIPANT Rusty Yuson“The program made me accept the notion that earthquakes are a fact of life in Tokyo, and I picked up practical tips on how to prepare for such an event. I recommend all newcomers—and even those who have lived here for many years—to participate in this practical and helpful program.”
KAYO
YAM
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36 | INTOUCH
COMMUNIT Y | ESCAPE
EURO MERICAN
TAILOR-MADE STYLEBespoke men’s and ladies’fashion at Hong Kong prices
Prices in US dollars(excluding shipping);
delivery in three weeks
Other superfine quality suits from
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trousers from $135shirts from $69
(minimum of four shirts)
suits from $395 blazers from $275tuxedos from $595
overcoats from $650
Time for an upgrade Time for MORI LIVING
An English-speaking concierge who helps you book a table
at one of the city’s hottest restaurants. On-site gym and
spa facilities that will help you look and feel your best. If
you’re looking for long-term lease properties with a full
range of services in convenient locations around Tokyo,
it’s time to upgrade to MORI LIVING. www.moriliving.com
MORI-Living_UPD-JULY.indd 1 2019/06/10 11:13
毎月一回一日発行
第四十七巻六五二号 トウキョウアメリカンクラブ
インタッチマガジン二〇一九年八 月一日発行
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本体七四一円
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Club kids dive into a fall ofafter-school pursuits and fun
In the ZoneN U RT U R I N G T I E S + P R E S E R V I N G T H E PA S T + PA I D T O P L AY
AUGUST 2019
T O K Y O A M E R I C A N C L U B